Friction-clutch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L.J. HIRT. FRIGTION CLUTCH.

No. 429,446. Patented June 3, 1890.

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I J- 'l WITNES'SE- E Noms PLTEns co., moro-umu w (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet '2.

L. J. HIRT.

PRIGTIUN CLUTCH.

No. 429,446. Patented June 3, 1890.

Fig .2.

.4 Figli.

ma Varens co., mofa-urna., WASHINGTON D UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Louis J. HIRT, or

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGrNOR TO HARRY W.

HILL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of lIl'ietteii's Patent No, 429,446, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed December 20, 1889. Serial No 334,405. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS J. HIRT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in

the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful- Improvements in FrictionOlutches, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being' had to the accompanyingv 4t is a view showing the inner end ofthe arms H and a modified connection between them and the sliding sleeve.

My invention relates to that class of devices which are known as friction-clutches; and it is designed particularly as animprovement upon that class of friction-clutches in' which a pair of clutch members are mounted upon a clutch-arm and are simultaneously moved in radial paths toward and from an interposed cylindric flangel for the purpose of grasping and releasing the same.

The object of my invention is to provide novel and improved mechanism for imparting to the clutch members their simultaneous inverse movement..

To this end it consists in the combination of parts herein described and shown, and pointed out denitely in the'claims.

Referring to the parts by letters, AA represents a shaft.

B represents an independently-revoluble pulley mounted concentric with said shaft,and provided with a concentric cylindric flange b.

O represents a clutch-frame rigidly secured to the shaft by a key o. or other appropriate means. This clutch-frame is provided with as many radial arms c as it is desired to employ clutch systems-that is to say, pairs of jaws and their operating mechanism.

D represents the outer and D the inner clutch member. These clutch members are of a well-known type, and consist of an inwardly-directed shank d and an overhanging jaw. The Shanks d are mounted upon oppofrom being displaced laterally by the side flanges c', and are held against the clutch-arm by plates E and F, which are bolted to said.V

flanges c. A lever G passes through a slot in the clutcharm and is pivoted to said clutcharm by the pivot g. On opposite sides of' this pivot thelever is also pivotally connected withthe two jaw-Shanks bythe pivots g' g. This lever G is rocked upon its pivot, and the jaws therebysim ultaneousl y moved toward or from each other and the interposed cylindric [iange b by a toggle H'. The outer link h of this toggle is pivoted to som-e part of the c1 utch'- arm and a lower link h is pivoted to an extension of the lever G. An arm H', rigidly connected with thetoggle-link h, extendsinward toward the shaft. Its inner endis suitably connected to a sleeveJ, slidable upon the shaft, whereby the toggle is straightened and the jaws closed as the sleeve is movedin one direction or bent, and the jaws thereby opened when the sleeve is moved in the opposite direction. `When the central togglei pivot passes the line connecting the two other toggle-pivots, the clutch is locked and can only be unlocked by the backward movement of the sliding sleeve. y

The drawings represent two forlns of connecting-the arm H with the sleeve. Fig. l shows this connection in the form ot' a link pivotally connected with the sleeve and arm. In Fig. 4 a pin on ears j j on the sleeve passes through a slot in the arm H. I am thus able, if I desire, tov get the entire clutch mechanism, including the sleeve, upon a very small part of the shaft by employing the latter construction; or the sleeve may be removed to any desired distance from the clutch mech-V anism-'by using a link of suitable length. y

In clutches of this class the jaws are generally faced with wood, and by reason of the wearing away of the wood facesit is necessary, in a practical clutch, to provide means for adjusting the mechanism to compensate for this wear. The means I have provided are as follows:

e represents a lug on the outside ot' the clutch-arm, or specifically, as shown, a part of the plate E. This lug is provided with a site sides of the clutch-arm, and are prevented socket e', which receives the shank k of the piece K. This piece K is provided with an ear or ears, to which is pivoted the upper end of the toggleslink h. A set-screw M ent-ers the lug e and bears against the end of the shank It, whereby the piece K may be moved inward toward the shaft as the jaws Wear. In the form shown the lug e is split and provided with ears e2, and by means of a bolt or screw c, which passes through them, the shank k may be clamped sufficiently tight to prevent its slipping outward when the toggle is operated, but which will permit the screw M to crowd it outward for the purpose of adj ustment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a friction-clutch, in combination, a cylindric Hange, a clutch-arm, a pair of clutch members mounted thereon, a lever pivotally connected to said arm and on opposite sides of that pivot to the clutch members, respectively, a toggle the links of which are pivotally connected one to the clutch-arm and one to an extension of the said lever, and mechanism fvor operating said toggle, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

2. In a friction-clutch, in combination, a cylindric flange, a clutclrarm, a pair of clutch members mounted thereon, a lever pivotally connected to said arm and on opposite sides of thatpivot to the clutch members, respectn ively, a toggle, a pivot connecting the outer toggle-link with the clutch-arm, a pivot connecting the inner toggle-link with said lever, an arm rigidly attached to the outer togglelink, a slidable sleeve, and suitable connections between said arm and sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a friction-clutch, in combination, a cylindric ange, a clutch-arm, a pair of clutch members mounted thereon, a lever pivoted to said arm and on opposite sides of said pivot with the clutch members, respectively, a toggle, a pivot connecting the inner toggle-link with said lever, a pivot connecting the outer toggle-link with the clutch-arm, mechanism for adjusting the position of this last-named pivot, and mechanism for operating said toggle, substantially as and for the purpose speci lied.

4. In a friction-clutch, in combination, a cylindric ange, a clutch-arm, a pair of clutch members mounted thereon, a lever pivoted to said clutch-arm and on opposite sides of this pivot with the clutch members, respectively, a lug attached to the clutch-arm and provided with a socket, a piece K, having a shank which enters said socket, mechanism for holding it therein, a setscrew which screws into the outer end of said lug and bears against said shank, a toggle, a pivot connect.- ing the inner toggle-link with said lever, a pivot connecting the outer toggle-link with the piece K, an arm rigidly secured to the outer toggle-link, a slidable sleeve, and suitable connections between said arm and sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

LOUIS J. HIRT.

Vitnesses: i

THOMAS F. DoLAN, E. M. SMTH. 

